Country rock icon Joe Ely dead at age 78 as his collaborator Bruce Springsteen leads tributes

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Country rock icon Joe Ely has died at age 78.

Ely died peacefully at his home in New Mexico on Monday, surrounded by his wife, Sharon, and daughter, Marie, according to a post on his Facebook page.

Ely passed away due to health issues stemming from Lewy Body dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and pneumonia, according to a recent announcement.

Joe Ely, a celebrated songwriter, singer, and storyteller, passed away today after a battle with Lewy Body Dementia, Parkinson’s, and pneumonia. He died peacefully at his home in Taos, New Mexico, with his wife, Sharon, and daughter, Marie, by his side. Ely was born on February 9, 1947, in Amarillo, Texas.

A prominent figure among the talented musicians who grew up in Lubbock and moved to Austin, Ely began his career by signing with MCA Records in the 1970s. He then enjoyed a prolific career spanning over five decades, performing and recording music internationally.

Bruce Springsteen, a frequent collaborator with Joe Ely, expressed his sadness at Ely’s passing, calling him a unique and talented American singer and artist.

I feel incredibly fortunate to have known Joe as a dear friend, and I’ll deeply miss our conversations and time together. Our thoughts are with his beloved wife, Sharon, and the entire family during this difficult time. He was a truly remarkable and iconic figure, and his loss is felt by many.

Sharon Ely, the wife of Ely, shared that he was diagnosed with a condition called cerebral amyloid angiopathy last year, while he was getting better from pneumonia.

When they shared the update, the family was getting another doctor’s opinion about his diagnosis and also preparing to share previously unreleased recordings from Ely’s career.

Because of Joe’s health situation, I’ve been listening to years’ worth of music he recorded in his Austin studio. We’ve found some amazing recordings, and we’re even putting together a few complete albums from them.

Joe’s new album, titled ‘Love & Freedom,’ is finally coming out soon. We think the songs really capture the spirit of our current times, and Joe is excited for everyone to listen and connect with the message. We’re also working on producing CDs, and we’ll share more details as soon as they’re available.

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2025-12-16 23:50